Duluth's storefront grants missed one thing: digital curb appeal

Duluth's Economic Development Authority rolled out small First Street growth grants, modest awards for things like signage, lighting, and storefront improvements that make a block feel cared for. It's a smart, tangible way to lift a street.

Here's what we'd add to the list: digital curb appeal. Most people "walk past" your business on a phone before they ever walk past it on the sidewalk, through a Google search, a map pin, or a friend's text with a link. If that first impression is a broken listing or a site that looks like 2012, the fresh awning never gets its chance.

If you're already investing in your physical storefront, pair it with a quick pass on the digital one: clean up your listings, refresh a tired homepage, add real photos. It's usually cheaper than the sign, and it's the version of your storefront most people see.